With the expansion of immunotherapy indications for cancer treatment in New Zealand, immune-related adverse events are expected to increase.
Te Pūao Mātai Pukupuku NZSO Oncology Immunotoxicity Webinar Series has been developed to support New Zealand health professionals in identifying, managing, and understanding immunotherapy toxicities and contraindications.
This free educational series will bring together leading national and international experts to provide practical, evidence-based guidance for professionals involved in cancer care.
Join our webinar mailing list to receive future updates about this series, including details of the first event in the coming month. Please note this is separate from the NZSO database.
We encourage you to share this information widely within your networks and circulate the promotional poster among your communities and colleagues.
If you have questions around this webinar series, please contact:
Georgia Watson
Conference Innovators
georgia@conference.nz
+64 3 352 8120
Upcoming Webinar | 18 November
Matters of the Heart: Navigating ICI Myocarditis
Wednesday 18 November | 7.00 – 8.30pm
Dr Joshua Wong | Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead of the Cardiology Service / Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis is rare but potentially life-threatening, making early recognition and prompt intervention essential. Join us for an engaging, case-based discussion exploring the challenges of diagnosing and managing this serious immunotherapy toxicity. From subtle presentations and interpreting troponin elevations to cardiac imaging, timely corticosteroid initiation and management of steroid-refractory disease, we'll explore practical strategies for navigating this complex condition. We'll also tackle the challenging questions of longer-term cardiac monitoring and whether immunotherapy can ever be safely reintroduced. This webinar is a practical, multidisciplinary session for clinicians involved in the care of patients receiving immunotherapy.
Introducing
Dr Joshua Wong
Dr Joshua Wong is a Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead of the Cardiology Service at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, with a joint appointment at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Victoria, Australia.
After completing specialist cardiology training, he undertook an advanced cardiac imaging fellowship at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. He subsequently completed a PhD at the University of Melbourne, focusing on heart failure in cancer survivors, supported by an NHMRC Postgraduate Scholarship and a Bright Sparks Scholarship. He was subsequently awarded a highly-competitive Fulbright Scholarship to undertake further cardio-oncology training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Dr Wong is a recipient of the prestigious Ralph Reader Clinical Prize from the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), alongside several other national and international research awards. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and presented his research at leading international conferences.
At Peter Mac, Dr Wong is developing an integrated clinical and research program in cardio-oncology, focused on the early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease associated with cancer treatment. His work aims to ensure that as cancer outcomes continue to improve, survivors are not limited by the long-term cardiovascular consequences of their treatment.
Webinars for viewing
Episode 3 | September 2026
Beyond the Guidelines: Actionable Insights for Immunotherapy-Mediated Colitis & Hepatitis
Hosted by:
Dr Lauren Bradbury | Medical Oncologist, Dunedin
Presented by:
Dr Andrew Trinh | Gastroenterologist and Interventional Endoscopist / Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Sophia Ling | Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist / Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Gareth Rivalland | Medical Oncologist, Auckland
Dr Caleb Lucas | Medical Oncologist, Christchurch
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related colitis and hepatitis are common toxicities, typically occurring early in treatment. Most cases respond well to corticosteroids, with few long term complications. This session will focus on areas where evidence is less certain, including the optimal immunosuppression for steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent disease and when it is safe to rechallenge with ICI therapy.
Episode 2 | August 2026
Immunotherapy Toxicity and Management for Nurses: Recognising, Assessing, Educating and Coordinating Care
Hosted by:
Laura Ledger | Clinical Nurse Specialist
Presented by:
Becky Upston | Clinical Nurse Specialist, RN Designated Prescriber, Medical Oncology Outpatients
Belinda Egan | Med Onc Clinical Nurse Specialist
Claire McKee | Oncology Nurse
This practical, nursing-focused session provides an overview of the immunotherapies used in New Zealand and the mechanisms behind immune-related adverse events (irAEs). It will explore common toxicities, their onset, assessment, monitoring, and management, with an emphasis on patient education and the use of toxicity assessment tools. The session will also discuss the relationship between treatment response and immune-related toxicities, highlighting the vital role nurses play in recognising symptoms early, coordinating care, and optimising patient outcomes.
Episode 1 | June 2026
Oncology Immunotherapy: Key Concepts and Practical Pearls for Primary and Emergency Clinicians
Hosted by:
Dr Caleb Lucas | Medical Oncologist, Christchurch
Presented by:
Dr Gareth Rivalland | Medical Oncologist, Auckland
Oncology immunotherapy has transformed outcomes for many cancer patients, but unlike traditional chemotherapy, it can produce unique immune-related adverse effects that often present first in primary care and emergency settings. This session will provide a practical overview of immunotherapy, outline common toxicities, and highlight key strategies for early recognition, assessment, and initial management.
We gratefully acknowledge the following sponsors for their valued support of this educational initiative.
The scientific content, speaker selection, and educational materials have been developed independently by Te Pūao Mātai Pukupuku New Zealand Society for Oncology. Sponsors have had no involvement in the development, review, or approval of the series content and have not influenced the views or recommendations presented.
